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15.2.2. Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners Initiative
The Better Access initiative is a COAG led program that is seeking to increase community access to
mental health professionals and team-based mental health care. Under the initiative, general
practitioners are encouraged to work more closely and collaboratively with psychiatrists, psychologists,
social workers and occupational therapists.
Figure 15.1
below summarises outcomes from the Better Access Initiative in 2009/10, with supporting
data tables found in Section 3.1
of
Appendix C.
In 2009/10, approximately 14,500 residents in Western Adelaide had undergone the process of having a
mental health plan prepared by their GP. This equates to a rate of 6,591 people per 100,000, which is
well below the rate across metropolitan Adelaide. Within the region, proportionally more residents in Port
Adelaide Enfield have had a mental health care plan development than in Charles Sturt or West Torrens.
This occurrence of proportionally fewer people having had a mental health care plan prepared is of
particular concern considering that the region is home to above average proportions of residents living
with high or very high levels of psychological distress.
Psychiatrist services were provided in Western Adelaide in 2009/10 at a rate slightly above that across
the Adelaide Statistical Division. Within the region, the services were provided at the highest rate in West
Torrens (at 706.1 per 100,000 people) and lowest in Port Adelaide Enfield (623.6 per 100,000 people).
This suggests that residents in Port Adelaide Enfield may need to access psychiatrist services elsewhere.
Psychologist services were provided in Western Adelaide in 2009/10 at a rate slightly below the ASD
average. Within the region, the highest rate of provision of services was in Charles Sturt (11,862 services
per 100,000) while the lowest rate of provision of services was again in Port Adelaide Enfield (10,777 per
100,000). This suggests that residents across the region, but especially in Port Adelaide Enfield may
need to access psychologist services elsewhere.
There were a total of 924 social worker services provided through the Better Access Initiative in Western
Adelaide in 2009/10, at a rate of 427 services per 100,000. This compares with a rate of 620 per 100,000
in Greater Adelaide, again suggesting that the rate of service provision in the Study Area is below
average. Within the region, the rate of social worker services is particularly low in Port Adelaide Enfield
(384 per 100,000) and Charles Sturt (400 per 100,000).
Occupational Therapist services were provided through the Better Access Initiative in Western Adelaide
in 2009/10 at a rate of 474 per 100,000 people. This was higher than the rate across the ASD of 331.6.
Occupational Therapist services were provided at the highest rates in Charles Sturt (646 per 100,000
which is nearly twice the ASD rate) and were lowest in Port Adelaide Enfield (286 per 100,000).
